U.S. patent number 5,109,341 [Application Number 07/708,830] was granted by the patent office on 1992-04-28 for method and apparatus for sensing a vehicle crash in the frequency domain.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.. Invention is credited to Brian K. Blackburn, Scott B. Gentry.
United States Patent |
5,109,341 |
Blackburn , et al. |
April 28, 1992 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Method and apparatus for sensing a vehicle crash in the frequency
domain
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling actuation of
an air bag restraint system. The apparatus includes a sensor
securable to the vehicle for providing a vibratory electric signal
having various frequency components indicative of whether the
vehicle is in a deployment condition. The particular frequency
components indicative of an deployment condition are not present
when the vehicle is in a non-deployment condition. A filter circuit
is connected to the sensor for providing an electric signal having
a value indicative of the value of the particular frequency
components indication of the occurrence of a deployment condition
that are present in the signal provided by the sensor. A signal
generator provides the actuation signal when the signal from the
filtering circuit exceeds a predetermined value.
Inventors: |
Blackburn; Brian K. (Rochester
Hills, MI), Gentry; Scott B. (Utica, MI) |
Assignee: |
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
(Lyndhurst, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
27029054 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/708,830 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1991 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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431474 |
Nov 3, 1989 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/47; 340/436;
280/735; 180/274; 307/10.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
21/01334 (20141201); B60R 21/0132 (20130101); B60R
21/01336 (20141201); B60R 21/0133 (20141201) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
21/01 (20060101); B60R 021/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;364/424.05 ;180/274,282
;280/734,735 ;307/10.1 ;340/436,438,669 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Micromachined Silicon Accelerometers with Self-Testing
Capabilities..
|
Primary Examiner: Chin; Gary
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Tarolli, Sundheim & Covell
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.
07,431,474 filed on Nov. 3, 1989, now abandoned.
Claims
Having fully described our invention, we claim:
1. An apparatus for providing an actuation signal for a passenger
restraint system in a vehicle upon an occurrence of one of a
plurality of predetermined types of vehicle crash conditions, said
apparatus comprising:
sensing means securable to the vehicle for providing a vibratory
electric signal having frequency components upon the occurrence of
a crash condition, each of said predetermined types of vehicle
crash conditions having an identifiable frequency component which,
for that type of vehicle, has been empirically determined to be
indicative of that type of crash condition; and
filter means connected to said sensing means for providing said
actuation signal when said sensing means provides a signal that
includes one of said identifiable frequency components which has
been empirically determined to be indicative of that type of
vehicle being in an associated one of said plurality of
predetermined types of vehicle crash conditions, each of said
identifiable frequency components having a value less than 3000
hertz.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said identifiable frequency
components are not present unless the vehicle is in the
predetermined type of vehicle crash condition.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is a mass
suspended by cantilever members from a frame secured to the vehicle
so that when the vehicle is subjected to a crash condition, said
mass vibrates, said sensing means further including resistive
elements operatively coupled to said cantilever members, the
resistance value of each of said resistive elements varying as said
mass vibrates.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said filter means includes a
bandpass filter connected to an output of said sensing means for
passing electric signals from said sensing means having said
identifiable frequency components indicative of said predetermined
types of vehicle crash conditions, said filter means further
including an envelope detector for providing a voltage value
responsive to the passed frequency components.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus further includes
a one-shot connected to said envelope detector for providing a
pulse signal of a predetermined duration, said pulse being said
actuation signal.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the passenger restraint system
is an air bag restraint system.
7. An apparatus for providing an actuation signal for a passenger
restraint system in a vehicle upon an occurrence of a predetermined
type of vehicle crash condition, said apparatus comprising:
sensing means securable to the vehicle for providing a vibratory
electric signal having various frequency components upon the
occurrence of a vehicle crash condition;
first filter means connected to said sensing means for passing an
electric signal from said sensing means when the signal from said
sensing means has particular frequency components indicative of the
vehicle being in said predetermined type of crash condition;
first envelope detector means connected to said first filter means
for providing a voltage value responsive to the value of the signal
from said first filter means;
second filter means connected to said sensing means for passing an
electric signal from said sensing means when the signal from said
sensing means has particular frequency components indicative of the
vehicle not being in said predetermined type of crash
condition;
second envelope detector means connected to said second filter
means for providing a voltage value responsive to the value of the
signal from said second filter means;
summing circuit means connected to said first envelope detector
means and to said second envelope detector means for providing a
signal having a value indicative of the sum of output signals from
said first and second envelope detector means; and
comparative means connected to the summing circuit means and to a
voltage reference signal for providing said actuation signal when
the value of the signal from said summing circuit means is greater
than the value of the reference signal.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sensing means is a mass
suspended by cantilever members from a frame secured to the vehicle
so that when the vehicle is subjected to a crash condition, said
mass vibrates, said sensing means further including resistive
elements operatively coupled to said cantilever members, the
resistance value of each of said resistive elements varying as said
mass vibrates.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first filter means
includes a bandpass filter connected to an output of said sensing
means for passing electric signal from said sensing means having
said particular frequency components indicative of said
predetermined type of vehicle crash condition, and wherein said
second filter means includes a bandpass filter connected to an
output of said sensing means for passing electric signals from said
sensing means having said particular frequency components not
indicative of said predetermined type of vehicle crash
condition.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said apparatus further
includes a one-shot connected to said comparator means for
providing a pulse signal of a predetermined duration, said pulse
being said actuation signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the passenger restraint system
is an air bag restraint system.
12. An apparatus for providing an actuation signal for a passenger
restraint system in a vehicle upon an occurrence of a plurality of
possible predetermined types of vehicle crash conditions, said
apparatus comprising:
sensing means securable to the vehicle for providing vibratory
electric signals having various frequency components indicative of
particular types of crash conditions to which the vehicle is
subjected;
a plurality of first filter means connected to said sensing means,
each said first filter means passing an electric signal from said
sensing means when the signal from said sensing means has a
particular frequency component indicative of the vehicle being in
an associated one of said predetermined types of vehicle crash
conditions;
a plurality of first envelope detector means, each said first
envelope detector means connected to an associated one of said
first filter means for providing a voltage value responsive to the
value of the signal passed from its associated first filter
means;
a plurality of second filter means connected to said sensing means,
each said second filter means passing an electric signal from said
sensing means when the signal from said sensing means has a
particular frequency component indicative of the vehicle not being
in one of said predetermined types of vehicle crash conditions;
a plurality of second envelope detector means, each said second
envelope detector means connected to an associated one of said
second filter means for providing a voltage value responsive to the
value of the signal passed from its associated second filter
means;
summing circuit means connected to said plurality of first envelope
detector means and to said plurality of second envelope detector
means for providing a signal having a value indicative of the sum
of output signals from said plurality of first and second envelope
detector means; and
comparator means connected to the summing circuit means and to a
voltage reference signal for providing said actuator signal when
the value of the signal from said summing circuit means is greater
than the value of the reference signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sensing means is a mass
suspended by cantilever members from a frame secured to the vehicle
so that when the vehicle is subjected to a crash condition, said
mass vibrates, said sensing means further including resistive
elements operatively coupled to said cantilever members, the
resistance value of each of said resistive elements varying as said
mass vibrates.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each said first filter means
includes a bandpass filter connected to an output of said sensing
means for passing electric signals from said sensing means having
said particular frequency component indicative of one of said
predetermined types of vehicle crash conditions, and wherein each
said second filter means includes a bandpass filter connected to an
output of said sensing means for passing electric signals from said
sensing means having said particular frequency component not
indicative of said predetermined types of vehicle crash
conditions.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said apparatus further
includes a one-shot connected to said comparator means for
providing a pulse signal of a predetermined duration, said pulse
being said actuation signal.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the passenger restraint
system is an air bag restraint system.
17. A method for providing an actuation system for a passenger
restraint system in a vehicle upon an occurrence of one of a
plurality of predetermined types of vehicle crash conditions, said
method comprising the steps of:
providing a vibratory electric signal having particular frequency
components upon the occurrence of said predetermined type of crash
condition, each of the predetermined types of crash conditions
having an identifiable frequency component which, for that type of
vehicle, has been empirically determined to be indicative of that
type of vehicle crash condition, each of said identifiable
frequency components having a value less than 3000 hertz;
filtering said vibratory signal to pass said identifiable frequency
components; and
providing said actuation signal when said filtering step passes one
of said identifiable frequency components indicative of the vehicle
being in one of said predetermined types of vehicle crash
conditions.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to an actuatable passenger
restraint system for a vehicle and is particularly directed to a
method and apparatus for sensing a particular, predetermined type
of vehicle crash and for providing an actuation signal upon the
occurrence of such a crash to actuate a passenger restraint
device.
BACKGROUND
Actuatable passenger restraint systems for vehicles are well known
in the art. One particular type of actuatable passenger restraint
system includes an inflatable air bag mounted within the passenger
compartment of the vehicle. Each air bag in the vehicle has an
associated, electrically actuatable ignitor, referred to as a
squib. Such systems further include an inertia sensing device for
measuring the deceleration of the vehicle. When the inertia sensing
device indicates that the vehicle is decelerating at a rate above a
predetermined amount, an electric current of sufficient magnitude
and duration is passed through the squib to ignite the squib which,
in turn, ignites a combustible gas generating composition or
pierces a container of pressurized gas, thereby inflating the air
bag.
Many known inertia sensing devices used in actuatable passenger
restraint systems are mechanical in nature. Such devices are
typically mounted to the vehicle frame and include a pair of
mechanically actuatable switch contacts and a resiliently biased
weight. The weight is arranged such that when the vehicle is
decelerated, the weight physically moves relative to its mounting.
The greater the rate of deceleration, the further the weight moves
against the bias force. The switch contacts are mounted relative to
the biased weight such that, when the weight moves a predetermined
distance, the weight moves over or against the switch contacts
causing them to close. The switch contacts, when closed, connect a
squib to a source of electrical energy sufficient to ignite the
squib.
Still other known actuatable passenger restraint systems for
vehicles include an electrical transducer or accelerometer for
sensing vehicle deceleration. Such systems include a monitoring or
evaluation circuit connected to the output of the transducer. Such
transducers provided an electric signal having a value indicative
of the vehicle's rate of deceleration. The monitoring circuit
processes the transducer output signal. One typical processing
technique is to integrate the transducer output signal. If the
output of the integrator exceeds a predetermined value, an
electrical switch is actuated to connect electrical energy to the
squib. One example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,870,894 to Brede, et al., ("the '894 patent").
The '894 patent discloses a system which includes an accelerometer,
an evaluation circuit connected to the accelerometer, and an
ignition circuit or squib connected to an output of the evaluation
circuit. The accelerometer includes a piezoelectric transducer that
provides an electrical output signal having a value indicative of
the vehicle deceleration. The evaluation circuit includes an
integrator electrically coupled to the output of the accelerometer
through an amplifier. The output of the integrator is an electrical
signal having a value indicative of the integral of the
deceleration signal. A trigger circuit is connected to the output
of the integrator. When the output of the integrator reaches a
predetermined value, the trigger circuit actuates a time delay
circuit. The time delay circuit begins to time out a predetermined
time period. After the time period is timed out, the air bag
ignitor is energized.
It has been discovered that it is not desirable to inflate a
vehicle air bag under all types of crashes to which the vehicle is
subjected. It is not desirable, for example, to inflate the air bag
during a low speed, "soft crash." The determination as to what
occurrences fall within the definition of "soft crash" is dependent
upon various factors related to the type of vehicle. If, for
example, a large vehicle traveling eight miles per hour hits a
parked vehicle, such a crash would be considered a "soft crash"
that would not require the air bag to inflate to protect the
vehicle passengers. The vehicle seat belts alone would be
sufficient to provide passenger safety. During such a "soft crash,"
a typical accelerometer would provide an output signal indicating a
rapid deceleration is occurring. In an actuatable passenger
restraint system made in accordance with the '894 patent, the air
bag would be inflated as soon as the predetermined speed
differential occurred and the time delay circuit timed out.
Another type of electronic control arrangement for an actuatable
passenger restraint system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,301.
The '301 patent discloses an air bag actuation circuit that
monitors the acoustic emissions produced during crushing of a
vehicle of a type having a welded, unit body structure with a pair
of frame side rails extending longitudinally from the front of the
vehicle to the back of the vehicle. Two acoustic vibration sensors,
in accordance with the '301 patent, are secured as close as
possible to the front of respective side rails. The output of each
of the sensors is connected to a band pass filter with a frequency
range of 200 KHz to 300 KHz so as to exclude lower frequency
components. The output of the bandpass filters are connected to
envelope detectors. The output of the envelope detectors are
connected to comparators. Once the level of the acoustic vibrations
in the pass band frequency exceed a value set by the comparator
reference, the air bag is actuated.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for
electrically controlling an actuatable passenger restraint system
which inflates the system's air bag only upon the occurrence of a
particular type of crash, one that requires the use of the air bag
for protection of the vehicle passengers.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided
for controlling actuation of a vehicle air bag restraint system
upon the occurrence of a predetermined type of crash condition. The
apparatus comprises sensing means securable to the vehicle for
providing a vibratory electric signal having various frequency
components upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash condition. The
apparatus further comprises filter means connected to said sensing
means for providing an actuation signal when said sensing means
provides a signal that includes particular frequency components
which have been empirically determined to be indicative of the
vehicle being in said predetermined type of crash condition.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for providing an
actuation signal for a passenger restraint system in a vehicle upon
the occurrence of a predetermined type of vehicle crash condition
comprises the steps of providing a vibratory electric signal having
particular frequency components upon the occurrence of said
predetermined type of crash condition, filtering said vibratory
signal to pass said particular frequency components, providing said
actuation signal when said step of filtering passes said particular
frequency components indicative of the vehicle being in said
predetermined type of vehicle crash condition.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
an apparatus is provided for providing an actuation signal for a
passenger restraint system in a vehicle upon the occurrence of a
plurality of possible predetermined types of vehicle crash
conditions. The apparatus comprises sensing means securable to the
vehicle for providing vibratory electric signals having empirically
determined, particular frequency components indicative of
particular types of crash conditions to which the vehicle is
subjected. A plurality of first filter means are connected to said
sensing means, each first filter means passing an electric signal
from said sensing means when the signal from said sensing means has
a particular frequency component indicative of the vehicle being in
an associated one of said predetermined types of vehicle crash
conditions. A plurality of first envelope detector means are
provided, each first envelope detector means connected to an
associated one of said first filter means for providing a voltage
value responsive to the value of the signal from its associated
first sensor means. A plurality of second filter means are
connected to said sensor means, each second filter means passing an
electric signal passed from said sensing means when the signal from
said sensing means has a particular frequency component indicative
of the vehicle not being in one of said predetermined types of
vehicle crash conditions. A plurality of second envelope detector
means are provided, each second envelope detector means connected
to an associated one of said second filter means for providing a
voltage value responsive to the value of the signals from its
associated second sensor means. The apparatus further includes
summing circuit means connected to said plurality of first envelope
detector means and to said plurality of second envelope detector
means for providing a signal having a value responsive to the value
of the sum of output signals from said plurality of first and
second envelope detector means. Comparator means are connected to
the summing circuit means and to a voltage reference signal for
providing said actuation signal when the value of the signal from
said summing circuit means is greater than the value of the
reference signal.
The sensing means is a mass suspended by cantilever members from a
frame secured to the vehicle so that when the vehicle is subjected
to a crash condition, said mass vibrates, said sensing means
further including resistive elements operatively coupled to said
cantilever members, the resistance value of said resistive elements
varying as said mass vibrates. Each said first filter means
includes a bandpass filter connected to an output of said sensing
means for passing electric signals from said sensing means having
said particular frequency components indicative of said
predetermined type of vehicle crash condition, and wherein each
said second filter means includes a bandpass filter connected to an
output of said sensing means for passing electric signals from said
sensing means having said particular frequency components not
indicative of said predetermined type of vehicle crash condition.
The apparatus further includes a one-shot connected to said
comparator for providing a pulse signal of a predetermined
duration, said pulse being said actuation signal .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention
relates from a reading of the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for controlling
actuation of a vehicle restraint system in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the accelerometer assembly shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a band-pass filter and envelope
detector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of the output of the
accelerometer assembly when the vehicle is subjected to a
non-deployment, barrier crash;
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of the Fourier transform of
the output signal shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of the output of the
accelerometer assembly when the vehicle is subjected to a long
velocity change, deployment crash condition;
FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of the Fourier transform of
the accelerometer output shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware arrangement
to obtain empirical data in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the control process for
determining frequency components during vehicle crashes;
FIG. 10 is a graphical representation of the output signal from the
accelerometer during a non-deployment barrier crash overlaid with
the output of the summation circuit shown in FIG. 1 and with the
output of the bandpass filter shown in FIG. 1 but off-set for
clarity;
FIG. 11 is a graphical representation of the Fourier transform of
the bandpass filter output shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a graphical representation of the output of the
accelerometer assembly overlaid with the output of the summation
circuit shown in FIG. 1 and with the output of the bandpass filter
shown in FIG. 1 but off-set for clarity;
FIG. 13 is a graphical representation of the Fourier transform of
the bandpass filter output shown in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is an apparatus for controlling actuation of a passenger
restraint system made in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention; and
FIG. 15 is a schematic of the negative envelope detectors shown in
FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 schematically depicts an apparatus 20 for use in controlling
actuation of an air-bag restraint system. An accelerometer assembly
22 is securable to the vehicle and provides a vibratory electric
output signal having frequency components indicative of the type of
crash condition to which the vehicle is subjected. The output 24 is
connected to an integrator circuit 26 of a type well known in the
art. The output 24 of the accelerometer assembly 22 is also
connected to the input terminal 28 of a boost circuit 30. The boost
circuit 30 includes a bandpass filter 32 designed for passing
frequency components within a particular frequency band that are
present in the output signal 24 of the accelerometer assembly 22.
An output 34 of the bandpass filter 32 is connected to an envelope
detector circuit 36. An output 38 of the integrator 26 and an
output 40 of the envelope detector 36 are both connected to a
summing circuit 42.
An output 44 of the summing circuit 42 is connected to one input 46
of a comparator 48. Another input 50 of comparator 48 is connected
to a junction 52 of a voltage dividing network including series
connected resistors 54, 56 connected between a source of electrical
energy V and electrical ground.
An output 58 of the comparator 48 is connected a one-shot 60. The
one-shot 60 provides a pulse signal 62 having a predetermined time
duration when the comparator senses that the output voltage 44 is
greater than the voltage value at the junction 52. This pulse
indicates that the vehicle is subjected to a crash condition for
which it is desired to actuate the passenger restraint system. For
the purposes of explanation, the passenger restraint system
discussed herein is an air bag.
The output 62 of the one-shot 60 is connected to an electric switch
64, such as a field effect transistor ("FET"). The switch 64 is
connected in series with a squib 66 between a source of electrical
energy V and electrical ground. The one-shot pulse length is
selected so as to insure that electrical current is supplied to the
squib 66 for a duration that exceeds the manufacturer's specified
minimum time period to insure actuation. Upon firing of the squib
66, the air bag is deployed.
The accelerometer assembly 22 includes an accelerometer transducer
68 that outputs a vibratory electric signal 70 having frequency
components indicative of a particular type of vehicle crash
condition. The output 70 of the accelerometer transducer 68 is
connected to an amplifier 72 that amplifies the signal 70 and
provides the output signal 24.
Referring to FIG. 2, the accelerometer 68 includes a mass 74
suspended by a cantilever support arrangement 76 secured to a
housing 78. The housing 78 is securable to the vehicle. Four
variable resistors 80 are mounted to the cantilever support
arrangement. The resistors 80 are electrically connected in a
Wheatstone bridge configuration between electrical ground and a
source of electrical energy V.
When the mass 74 of the accelerometer 68 moves relative to its
housing 78, as happens during a vehicle crash, the resistance
values of the resistors 80 change. Because of the Wheatstone bridge
configuration, a voltage variation occurs across terminals 82, 84
which is indicative of the movement of the mass 74. Such a
transducer or accelerometer is available commercially from
ICSensors, 1701 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, Calif. 95035 under Model
No. 3021.
The bridge resistors 80 are connected to amplifier 72 which
provides the output signal 24 having a value indicative of the
movement of the mass 74. Specifically, terminal 82 is connected to
a non-inverting input 86 of an operational amplifier ("op amp") 88.
The output 90 of op amp 88 is connected to its inverting input 92
through feedback resistor 94. Terminal 84 is connected to a
non-inverting input 96 of an op amp 98. The output 100 of the op
amp 98 is connected to its inverting input 102 through a feedback
resistor 104. The inverting input 92 of op amp 88 and the inverting
input 102 of op amp 98 are connected together through a variable
resistor 106.
The output 90 of the op amp 88 is also connected to the
non-inverting input 108 of op amp 110 through a resistor dividing
network including resistors 112, 114. A filter capacitor 116 is
connected between the junction of resistors 112, 114 and electrical
ground. The output 100 of op amp 98 is also connected to the
inverting input 118 of op amp 110 through a resistor 120. The
output 122 of op amp 110 is connected to its inverting input 118
through parallel connected resistor 124 and capacitor 126.
If the resistors 94, 104, 112, 114, 120, and 124 have equal
resistance values, designated as R, and if the value of the
variable resistor 106 is designated Rvar, the gain "G" of the
amplifier 72 is given by:
The boost circuit 30 of FIG. 1 is shown in detail in FIG. 3. The
band-pass filter 32 includes the input terminal 28 which is
connected to the output 24 of the amplifier 72. The amplitude of
the input signal is divided by series connected resistors 140, 142.
The junction of the resistors 140, 142 is connected to an inverting
input 144 of an op amp 146 through a capacitor 148. The
non-inverting input 150 of the op amp 146 is connected to
electrical ground. The output 152 of the op amp is connected to the
inverting input 144 through a resistor 154. The junction of the
resistors 140, 142 is connected to the output 152 of the op amp 146
through a capacitor 156.
When selecting the component values for the band-pass filter 32, a
frequency F is selected half way between the values f1 and f2 which
define a frequency band limit for which the filter is to pass. A
value Q is set equal to the value F divided by the frequency band
width that is 3 db down from the peak value of the frequency F. The
value of resistor 140 is designated R140. All other resistor values
are similarly designated, i.e., RXXX where XXX is the resistor
number from the drawing. The value of capacitor 148 is designated
C148. The value of other capacitors are similarly designated, i.e.,
CXXX where XXX is the capacitor number from the drawing. The
frequency F can be expressed as:
The gain G of the band-pass filter 32 can be express as:
The values of the resistors are then determined by:
The envelope detector circuit 36 includes a diode 160 having its
anode 162 connected to the output 152 of the bandpass filter 32.
The cathode 164 of the diode 160 is connected to parallel connected
resistor 166 and capacitor 168.
Referring to FIG. 4, the output 24 of the accelerometer assembly 22
is graphically depicted with amplitude on the y-axis and time on
the x-axis for a non-deplyment vehicle crash. The rough appearance
to the graph of the output signal 24 is due to the vibrations of
the mass 74 during the vehicle crash. The output 38 of the
integrator 26 is also depicted. FIG. 5 graphically depicts the
Fourier transform of the accelerometer signal depicted in FIG. 4.
Amplitude is on the y-axis and frequency is on the x-axis. The
Fourier transform transforms the time domain output signal from the
accelerometer assembly 22 into a frequency domain signal. The
Fourier transform provides an indication as to what frequency
components are present in the time domain signal. It has been
discovered that the output 24 of the accelerometer assembly 22
includes particular frequency components that identify the
particular type of vehicle crash to which the vehicle is
subjected.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, no frequency components are present
between frequency values f1 and f2. By no frequency components
being present, it is meant that frequency components between values
f1 and f2 have amplitudes less than a predetermined value or have
no significant value relative to the amplitude of the frequency
components that are present elsewhere in the spectrum. Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7, the time domain graph and the frequency domain graph
of a deployment crash are depicted, respectively. The output 38 of
the integrator 24 is also depicted. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the
deployment crash does have frequency components present between the
values f1 and f2.
It has been further discovered that if one could determine for a
particular type of vehicle of concern which frequency components
are present during a deployment crash and are not present during a
non-deployment crash, one could continuously monitor the output 24
for those frequency components and actuate the air bag upon
detection of those frequencies.
Referring to FIG. 8, an apparatus 180 is shown for determining
frequency components that are provided by the accelerometer
assembly 22 attached to a vehicle during different types of crash
conditions, i.e., non-deployment crashes and deployment crashes. A
deployment crash is one in which it is desirable to deploy the air
bag. A non-deployment crash is one in which it is not desirable to
deploy the air bag.
The accelerometer assembly 22 is exactly as described above. The
output 24 of the accelerometer assembly 22 is connected to an
analog-to-digital ("A/D") converter 182. A crash sensor enable
circuit 184 is connected to the output 24 of the accelerometer
assembly 22 and to the A/D converter 182. The crash sensor enable
circuit 184 monitors the accelerometer signal 24. When the
magnitude of the signal 24 is greater than a predetermined value,
the crash sensor enable circuit 184 enables the A/D converter to
begin conversion. The converted data is stored in a memory device
186.
After test data is acquired and stored, the data is subsequently
processed by a digital transform processor 190. The digital
transform processor 190 may take one of several forms, such as a
Fourier transformer, a cosine transformer, or one of other several
types known in the art. The output 192 of the transformer 190 is
connected to a microcomputer 194. The microcomputer 194 correlates
the particulars of the crash parameters, i.e., whether the crash
was under deployment conditions or non-deployment conditions, with
the determined frequencies detected by the digital transform
processor. The microcomputer 194 then identifies which frequency
components are present during a deployment crash condition and not
present during a non-deployment crash condition. Alternatively, the
output of the digital transform processor can be displayed on an
oscilloscope. From the display of the transform data for both a
deployment and a non-deployment crash condition, it can be
ascertained by an observer which frequencies are present during a
deployment crash condition that are not present during a
non-deployment condition.
It is contemplated that the accelerometer assembly 22, the A/D
converter 182, the crash sense enable circuit 184, and the memory
186 would be on board the vehicle being tested. The digital
transform processor 190 and microcomputer 192 would be out board of
the vehicle. After the vehicle is crashed and the data is stored in
the memory 186, the digital transform processor 190 could then be
connected to the memory 186 for further processing and
analysis.
FIG. 9 depicts a flow chart of the control process in accordance
with the present invention for obtaining the frequency components
for deployment and non-deployment crashes for a vehicle. It is
contemplated that the control process will be followed for each
make and model of vehicle. This is necessary because the frequency
components for the same type of crash condition may vary dependent
upon the vehicle type or class. Step 250 starts the control
process. In step 252, a vehicle of the particular type is crashed
at non-deployment conditions, such as a eight mile per hour barrier
crash. The accelerometer assembly output signal 24 for the
non-deployment crash condition run in step 252 is recorded in step
254. The output signal 24 from the accelerometer assembly 22 during
such a non-deployment crash condition are depicted in the graph of
FIG. 4. In step 256, a Fourier transform is performed on the
non-deployment crash data recorded in memory 184. The transform
data is depicted in the graph of FIG. 5. As can be seen from the
graph of FIG. 5, no significant frequency components are present
for the frequency band between frequency f1 and frequency f2.
In step 258, the same type of vehicle is crashed at deployment
conditions such as a low speed pole crash. The accelerometer
assembly output signal 24 for the deployment crash condition run in
step 258 is recorded in step 260. The output signal 24 from the
accelerometer assembly 22 during such a deployment crash condition
is depicted in the graph of FIG. 6. In step 262, the Fourier
transform is performed on the stored deployment crash data. The
transform data is depicted in the graph of FIG. 7. As can be seen
from the graph of FIG. 7, significant frequency components are
present for the frequency band between frequency f1 and frequency
f2. Based upon this information, a band pass filter is designed in
step 264 for the frequency band so as to pass signals present
between frequency f1 and frequency f2. The component values for the
band pass filter are determined according to the equations
discussed above.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the output 38 of the integrator 26 is
shown for both a non-deployment crash condition (FIG. 4) and for a
deployment crash condition (FIG. 6). FIG. 10 depicts the same
non-deployment crash as depicted in FIG. 4. Also depicted in FIG.
10 is the output 34 of the bandpass filter 32 and output 44 of the
summing circuit 42, which is the sum of the output of the
integrator circuit 26 and the boost circuit 30. The output of the
bandpass filter 32 is shown offset on the y-axis for purposes of
clairity. A threshold value Vt is selected which, for all
non-deployment crash conditions, will be greater than the value of
the output 44. Running non-deployment crash conditions with the
boost circuit is depicted in FIG. 9 at step 266. The Fourier
transform of the bandpass filter output is shown in FIG. 11.
Between frequencies f1 and f2, there are few frequency components
present. These frequency components are insignificant in magnitude
as compared to the output of the bandpass filter during a
deployment crash condition. Selecting the value of a threshold
value Vt is depicted in step 268 of FIG. 9. Based upon the selected
value Vt, the resistive values of resistors 54, 56 are selected so
that the voltage at the junction 52 is equal to Vt. The method of
determining which frequency components are present during
non-deployment and deployment crash condition, the designing of the
bandpass filter based upon this information, and the selection of a
firing threshold is completed in step 270 of FIG. 9.
Referring to FIG. 12, the output 24 of the accelerometer assembly
22 is depicted during the same deployment crash condition shown in
FIG. 6. The output 34 of the bandpass filter 32 and the output 44
of the summing circuit 42 are also depicted. FIG. 13 depicts the
Fourier transform of the bandpass filter 32 for this deployment
crash occurrence. There are frequency components present between
frequencies f1 and f2 having a significant magnitude relative to
the values shown in FIG. 11. It should be appreciated that, as a
result of the boost circuit 30, the output 44 of the summing
circuit 42 rises very rapidly as compared to the output of the
integrator circuit alone.
The apparatus schematically shown in FIG. 1, which is made in
accordance with the present invention, permits the distinction
between a deployment crash condition having a long velocity change
pulse and a non-deployment low speed barrier crash condition to
better control the actuation of the air bag. Also, the arrangement
in accordance with the present invention, acts to filter out
certain occurrences for which it is not desirable to actuate the
air bag. For example, if the vehicle was subject to a high
frequency hammer blow, those frequencies would be filtered out by
the bandpass filter. The integrator output would not change from a
hammer blow due to the short duration of the occurrence of the
event.
Referring to FIG. 14, another embodiment of the present invention
is schematically depicted. An accelerometer assembly 22 having an
output 24 is provided and is the same as described above. The
output 24 of the accelerometer assembly 22 is connected to
deployment circuitry 300 and non-deployment circuitry 302. It has
been discovered that when a particular type of vehicle is subjected
to a plurality of different types of non-deployment crash
conditions, certain frequency components are present that are not
present during deployment crash conditions. Conversely, it has been
discovered that when a particular type of vehicle is subjected to a
plurality of different types of deployment crash conditions,
certain frequency components are present that are not present
during non-deployment crash conditions. Based on this discovery, it
has been determined that control of the passenger restraint system
can be controlled by evaluating a plurality of discrete frequency
bands during a vehicle crash. Control of the air bag is responsive
to whether there are more deployment frequency components present
or more non-deployment frequency components present.
The deployment circuitry 300 includes a plurality of bandpass
filters 320, 322, 324, 326 all connected to the output 24 of the
accelerometer assembly 22. The frequencies to be passed by the
bandpass filters of the deployment sensors are determined using the
empirical techniques described above by crashing the same type of
vehicle at several different deployment conditions and noting which
frequency components are present for deployment conditions, but are
not present for non-deployment crash conditions. Positive envelope
detectors 330, 332, 334, 336, are respectively connected to the
bandpass filters 320, 322, 324, 326. The outputs of the envelope
detectors 330, 332, 334, 336 are connected to a summing circuit
340.
The non-deployment circuitry 302 include a plurality of bandpass
filters 350, 352, 354, 356 all connected to the output 24 of the
accelerometer assembly 22. The frequencies to be passed by the
bandpass filters of the non-deployment sensors are determined using
the empirical technique described above by crashing the same type
of vehicle at several different non-deployment conditions and
noting which frequency components are present for non-deployment
conditions but not present for deployment crash conditions.
Negative envelope detectors 360, 362, 364, 366 are respectively
connected to the bandpass filters 350, 352, 254, 256. The outputs
of the envelope detectors 360, 362, 364, 366 are connected to the
summing circuit 340.
FIG. 15 schematically depicts a negative envelope detector of the
type contemplated for use in the non-deployment circuitry 302. The
negative envelope detector includes a diode 370 having its cathode
372 connected to the output of a non-deployment bandpass filter.
The anode 374 of the diode 370 is connected to a parallel
combination of resistor 376 and capacitor 378. The anode 374 is
connected to the summing circuit 340.
When a signal is provided from the accelerometer assembly 22 as
during a vehicle crash, frequencies that may be present indicative
of a non-deployment condition or of a deployment condition are
passed by the appropriate bandpass filters. The resultant summation
is filtered by a filter circuit 380. The output of the filter 380
is connected to an input 386 of a comparator 388. The other input
390 of the comparator 388 is connected to a reference voltage Vt as
was described above. The output 392 of the comparator 388 is
connected to a one-shot 60 as described below. When the present of
deployment frequency components minus the presence of any
non-deployment frequency components exceeds the value Vt, the squib
is actuated.
As should be appreciated, the embodiment of FIG. 14 reduces the
need for or, if the number of deployment bandpass filters and the
non-bandpass filters is sufficient enough, eliminates the need for
an integrator. The arrangement shown in FIG. 14, although not shown
as being connected in parallel with an integrator, can be so
connected.
It is contemplated that all the band pass filters for the different
embodiments described in this specification would be passing
frequency components of less than 3 KHz.
This invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments. Modifications and alterations may occur to others upon
reading and understanding this specification. For example, the
boost circuit shown in FIG. 1 could be replaced with a deletion
circuit that would monitor the accelerometer output signal for the
presence of frequency components indicative of a non-deployment
condition. This deletion circuit would subtract from the integrator
signal to prevent a false indication of a deployment condition.
Also, the preferred embodiment has been described with regard to
actuation of an air bag restraint system. The method and apparatus
of the present invention is just as applicable to other passenger
restraint system. For example, the actuation signal can be used to
lock a seat belt in a lockable seat belt system or to actuate a
pretensioner for a seat belt retractor in a seat belt system. It is
out intention to include all such modifications and alterations
insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and
the equivalents thereof.
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